Fire damages Hubbardston garage

Fire damaged part of an auto repair shop on Route 68 Thursday night. No one was hurt.

The fire, at Second Shift Garage, 107 Gardner Road, was likely started by welding sparks earlier in the day, said Fire Chief Robert Hayes.

He said firefighters arrived just after 7 p.m. to find heavy fire coming from a bay at the back of the building. They were able to quickly extinguish the fire, and prevented fire from extending to the second floor.

Heavy fire and water damage to the bay where the fire started occurred.

Chief Hayes said the second floor only sustained smoke damage.

He said the owner, Ray LaJoie, had left for about an hour earlier in the afternoon. He said there was nothing suspicious about the fire. The welding equipment was near a blanket used to protect cars' bodywork while repairs are made. Scrap wood was nearby, too, Chief Hayes said.

The last firefighters left the business around 8:30 p.m. Firefighters from Princeton, Barre, Gardner, Rutland and Westminster provided mutual aid, the chief said.